Trace-fastener



(N0 Modei.)

W. H. HUPFORD.

1 TRACE PA'STENER.

No. 466,241. Patented Dec. 29; 1891.

UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM HENRY HUFFORD, OF SEL-MA, INDIANA.

TRACE-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0.466,241, dated December 29, 1891.

Application filed June 8,1891. Serial No. 395,566. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WIL IAM HENRY HUF- FORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Selma, in the county of Delaware and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Trace-Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following'to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Myinvention relates to certain new and usef ul improvements in traoe-fastenin gs, and has for its object to produce a cheap, simple, and durable trace-fastening capable of being easily applied to any ordinary singletree, and when so applied permit of the trace being quickly connected to the singletree and securely held in place thereon.

To these ends my invention consists in the novel trace fastener hereinafter fully described, and afterward definitely pointed out in the claim, due reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective'view of my improved device; Fig. 2, an elevation showing the. same applied to a singletree, and Fig. 3 a similar view showing the trace in position.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A indicates my improved fastener, consisting of a flat strip of metal perforated, as at a a, for the reception of screws or rivets, by means of which it is secured to the singletree. Its inner end I) is bent up toavertical position,the other portion b of the strip being curved upward and backward over the vertical part b, and thence curved downward, the extreme end having an upward curve, as at c, an d bent over upon itself to prevent presenting a sharp end whichmight cut or mar the trace.

The singletree D is preferably grooved, as at d, at a point between the free end 0 of the fastener and the vertical portion 1) to receive and retain the trace, and the vertical portion (2 serves as a stop to prevent the inward movement of the trace when it is slipped over the singletree and under the fastener. By constructing the spring-strip A in the manner shown, so that it will be secured to the singletree and then be curved upwardly and back over upon itself, the fastener will not be cloggedby the accumulation of dirt between the springand sin gletreea common objection to spring trace-fasteners. To apply the trace it is merely necessary to slip the perforated end of the trace over the end of the singletree, when it will slip under the curved free end 0 of the fastener into the groove (Z, the free end of the spring closing down upon the sin gletree and preventing the trace from slipping out of place.

Having described my invention, what I claim is As an improved article of manufacture, a trace-fastener consisting of a flat spring A, having its inner end bent vertically to form a stop I), and the portion 1) curved upward and then back over the stop I) and having its free end turned upwardly to permit the passage of a trace, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WM. HENRY l-IUFFORD.

Witnesses:

W. L. SIMMONS, G. B. DAVIS. 

